Lack of Oak Ridge board applicants a concern

Tuesday

Dec 4, 2012 at 6:57 PMDec 4, 2012 at 6:58 PM

The deadline for citizens to submit applications for appointment to one of several city boards and commissions for the next term has expired, and City Council will make appointments to fill vacancies during a special meeting on Dec. 17.

Beverly Majors/Staff

The deadline for citizens to submit applications for appointment to one of several city boards and commissions for the next term has expired, and City Council will make appointments to fill vacancies during a special meeting on Dec. 17.

Oak Ridge City Council discussed filling those vacancies at a recent work session and shared concerns about the lack of applicants for at least one of the boards.

The Trade Licensing Board has two vacancies for a three-year term and at least one applicant should have a current and valid mechanical license from the city.

The deadline for applications for the seven-member TLB was extended but has now expired.

Discussion during the work sessions included housing-related issues relative to boards and economic development issues … and its relationship to appointments.

City Manager Mark Watson said only two boards were "contractual entities" and only two were "independent."

Those include, respectively, the Anderson County Economic Development Association and the Oak Ridge Housing Authority, and the Industrial Development Board as well as the Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board.

Newly elected Council member Trina Baughn commented about the Housing Authority's low-income housing, asking if about 50 percent of low-income housing falls under that board's control. Council member Anne Garcia Garland asked about tax payments from the ORHA.

Janice McGinnis, the city's finance director, said the ORHA pays property taxes on a formula at a reduced rate.

Watson also said the ORHA board "needs strong individuals," and said the Economic Development goals "have to be addressed" in light of cuts to both the Economic Partnership and the Roane Alliance.

Garcia Garland suggested a policy work session on economic development issues and Baughn suggested the Council "look at candidates through the lens of liability" in respect to the Economic Development board.

Council also talked briefly about other boards and how many could have interrelations. Could an events coordinator for the ORCVB board, for example, come through the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board?

Some discussion about "doing away" with the Highland View Redevelopment Board was also on the table.

"That probably needs to be looked at," Watson remarked.

Council member Chuck Hope said many of the “legacy homes,” if redeveloped, could benefit young people and offer five legacy neighborhoods a new start.

City Council members also decided to discuss housing issues in a later work session.

"Boards and commissions are the eyes and ears of the Council,” Hope said, “and it would be beneficial for us to see if goals are viable."

The Oak Ridge City Council will make appointments to about 17 boards and commissions to fill more than 40 vacancies during its Dec. 17 meeting.